<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains Summary Financial Information extracted from the Form
N-SAR and the financial statements and is qualified in its entirety by
references to such documents.
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 021
   <NAME> NUVEEN INNOVATION FUND - CLASS A
<MULTIPLIER> 1000

<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                            21061
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                           21906
<RECEIVABLES>                                     3386
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                    5695
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   30987
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                         2763
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                               2763
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                         26497
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                               96
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                            882
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                           845
<NET-ASSETS>                                     28224
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                      41
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           (41)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                           882
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                          845
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                             1686
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                             96
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                           28224
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                               21
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                     77
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                               592
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            20.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                  (.04)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           2.52
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              22.48
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.58


</TABLE>